Press Releases

Today, President Biden’s Department of Labor (DOL) finalized an overly restrictive independent contractor rule that will devastate millions of workers and businesses, eliminate employment opportunities, and topple the gig economy. Upon the announcement, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) issued the following statement:

“In yet another crushing blow to the American workforce, the final rule issued today by President Biden’s DOL would eliminate the flexibilities that being an independent contractor provides to millions of workers. Because Congressional Democrats have continuously failed to pass their radical PRO Act, which would significantly narrow the definition of an independent contractor, President Biden is now doing their bidding—weaponizing the DOL to circumvent the legislative process altogether.

“As I’ve visited with small business owners across Georgia’s 12th District, the number one issue I hear about is the need for workforce. To eliminate an employment model that has allowed millions of Americans to have the flexibility they need and helped countless individuals achieve the American Dream is inconceivable.

“My Employee Rights Act, which I introduced last year, would create a clear definition across federal laws to protect independent workers and provide essential protections for workers' rights, choices, and freedoms in the 21st-century economy. The modern workforce is entrepreneurial, and our government should help facilitate that spirit, not crush it under the weight of bureaucracy. Today serves as another stark reminder that Congress must pass this legislation in short order.”